Drakshasava (
Sanskrit
Sanskrit (; attributively , ; nominally , , ) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in South Asia after its predecessor languages had diffused there from the northwest in the late ...
: द्राक्षासव) is a traditional
Ayurvedic tonic made from
grapes
A grape is a fruit, botanically a berry, of the deciduous woody vines of the flowering plant genus ''Vitis''. Grapes are a non- climacteric type of fruit, generally occurring in clusters.
The cultivation of grapes began perhaps 8,000 years ago, ...
.
Drakshasava is a weak
wine
Wine is an alcoholic drink typically made from fermented grapes. Yeast consumes the sugar in the grapes and converts it to ethanol and carbon dioxide, releasing heat in the process. Different varieties of grapes and strains of yeasts are m ...
because the grape juice is usually only partially fermented.
It is also sometimes prepared by using
raisin
A raisin is a dried grape. Raisins are produced in many regions of the world and may be eaten raw or used in cooking, baking, and brewing. In the United Kingdom, Ireland, New Zealand, and Australia, the word ''raisin'' is reserved for the ...
concentrate.
The tonic is claimed to be beneficial for maladies such as lethargy, weakness and heat exhaustion.
Drakshasava is believed to address health imbalances arising from an excess of the
Vata-Vayu Dosha and is said to be useful in curing
cardiac disorders and
hemorrhoids in the Ayurvedic system.
Etymology
''Draksha'' is the Sanskrit word for grape.
"Asava" means "distillate", "juice" or "extract".
Thus "Drakshasava" means "extract from grapes".
Historical references
Drakshasava found mention in the
Sushruta Samhita, a book of remedies dating to the 3rd–4th century AD/CE.
See also
*
Churna
Churna (Sanskrit: चूर्ण "powder") is a mixture of powdered herbs and or minerals used in Ayurvedic medicine. Triphala is an example of a classic Ayurvedic
Ayurveda () is an alternative medicine system with historical roots in the Ind ...
*
Chyawanprash
Chyavanprash (), originally Chayavanaprasham, is a cooked mixture of sugar, honey, ghee, Indian gooseberry ( amla) jam, sesame oil, berries and various herbs and spices. It is prepared as per the instructions suggested in Ayurvedic texts. Chyavan ...
*
Dabur
Dabur Ltd is an Indian multinational consumer goods company, founded by S. K. Burman and headquartered in Ghaziabad. It manufactures Ayurvedic medicine and natural consumer products, and is one of the largest fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) ...
*
Dabur Research Foundation
*
Grape syrup
Grape syrup is a condiment made with concentrated grape juice. It is thick and sweet because of its high ratio of sugar to water. Grape syrup is made by boiling grapes, removing their skins, squeezing them through a sieve to extract the juice, ...
*
Rasayana
''Rasāyana'' (रसायन) is a Sanskrit word literally meaning ''path'' (''ayana'') ''of essence'' (''rasa''). It is an early ayurvedic medical term referring to techniques for lengthening lifespans and invigorating the body. It is one of ...
*
Triphala
Triphala ("three fruits") is an Ayurvedic herbal rasayana formula consisting of equal parts of three myrobalans, taken without seed: Amalaki (''Phyllanthus emblica''), Bibhitaki (''Terminalia bellirica''), and Haritaki (''Terminalia chebula''). ...
References
Ayurvedic medicaments
Wine
{{wine-stub